Tribe helps FVFD with grant

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe helped the Flandreau Volunteer Fire Department purchase an essential piece of equipment with a Homeland Security grant they received earlier this year.

The air cascade system that was given to the FVFD is a mobile device that allows the firefighters to refill their self-contained breather apparatus, or in laymans terms, their air tanks.

The Tribe had been approved for the Homeland security money earlier in the year and after asking around about projects or items needed in the area, they came up with the cascade system.

“If it were my house, I would hate for them to have to stop their efforts, head back to the fire station to refill their tanks and then come back,” said Garrie Kills A Hundred, a Homeland Security Board member.

Both parties agreed that it was something that they desperately needed and would be a great addition to the firefighting efforts in the area.

“We are very grateful for their support and the help they have given us in order to get the cascade system in Flandreau,” said Fire Chief Jud Krull.

The FVFD has placed the system in their emergency trailers so that all three services (Flandreau, Trent and Colman) can use it.

The Tribe purchased the trailer around two months ago and has been since reimbursed by Homeland Security. The FVFD has tested the system but they have yet to need it in the field.